Designing an employee Umrah programme
Many Pakistani employers send staff for Umrah as a reward for long service or performance. A good programme is fair, clearly written and planned around the Umrah calendar, so it builds goodwill rather than disputes.
Who qualifies
Start with simple, written rules. Common criteria are length of service, a clean disciplinary record, and not having been sent before under the same programme. Some companies reserve places for long-serving staff in junior grades, who are least able to fund the trip themselves.
Decide early whether a spouse or parent may accompany the employee, and who pays for them. Many programmes pay for the employee and allow a companion at the employee’s own cost on the same group booking.
- Minimum service period, for example five years
- One trip per employee under the programme
- A companion at the employee’s cost, if allowed
- A medical fitness confirmation for the travel
Keeping it fair
If there are more eligible staff than places, use a transparent method: a draw among eligible staff, a points system for service and grade, or nominations reviewed by a committee. Announce the method before applications open and publish the results to applicants.
Avoid letting managers choose informally. Perceived favouritism is the most common reason these programmes cause friction.
Leave, pay and cover
Decide whether the trip is special paid leave or comes out of annual leave. Most employers treat a company-sponsored Umrah as special paid leave for the travel days. State what happens if the employee leaves the company soon after the trip; some policies ask for partial repayment within a set period.
Plan cover for the employee’s work, particularly if several people from one team travel together. Ask your tax adviser how the benefit should be treated in payroll.
When to send staff
Ramadan, especially the last ten nights, is the most popular and most expensive time for Umrah, and crowds are heaviest. Many companies choose October to January, or the weeks after Hajj from June, when hotels near the Haram are easier to secure. Avoid the weeks before Hajj, when Makkah is closed to Umrah pilgrims.
What to offer other staff
An Umrah programme is a religious benefit. Many companies offer non-Muslim staff, and Muslim staff who prefer not to travel, an equivalent benefit, such as a holiday package or a cash award of similar value. Write this into the policy so the programme is seen as fair across the workforce.
Go Global arranges corporate Umrah through our licensed Umrah partner. Umrah visas for Pakistani passport holders are processed by Saudi-approved Umrah companies through the official Nusuk system, and our licensed Umrah partner handles that processing for the groups we plan.
How Go Global plans it
Policy
We share a draft policy structure for your HR team.
Budget
We price options for your dates and group size.
Nominations
HR shares names and documents.
Partner and bookings
Visa through our licensed Umrah partner; flights, hotels and transport.
Report
One invoice and a programme report.
Questions we are asked
How many days should a company Umrah trip be?
Most corporate trips are 10 to 15 days, covering Makkah and Madinah. Shorter trips of about a week are possible.
Should the trip be paid leave?
Most employers treat a company-sponsored Umrah as special paid leave for the travel days. Write the rule into the policy.
How do we choose fairly between eligible staff?
Use a published method: a draw, a points system or a committee review, announced before applications open.
What do we offer staff who do not take part?
Many companies offer an equivalent benefit, such as a holiday or cash award of similar value.
Planning an employee Umrah programme?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips since 2020, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.